Royal Ascot: Prince of Wales's Stakes

The Prince of Wales's Stakes, currently staged on the second day of the Royal meeting, was established in 1862, and named after the Prince of Wales at that time, the future King Edward VII. The original version was restricted to three-year-olds, and it was contested over 1 mile and 5 furlongs. The race was discontinued after World War II, when there was no Prince of Wales. It returned in 1968, a year before the investiture of Prince Charles. The distance of the new version was 1 mile and 2 furlongs, and it was now open to horses aged three or older. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Prince of Wales's Stakes was classed at Group 2 level. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 2000, and at this point the minimum age of participating horses was raised to four.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the Prince of Wales's Stakes was on Tuesday 17th June 1862 over 1 mile 5 furlongs of the New Course. It was won by Carisbrook (100/8), beating Neptunus (4/1 joint favourite) and Hurricane (20/1) by 2 lengths and a head.
Prince of Wales's Stakes 1888 Group 1 1 mile 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age'weight Owner
1 OSSORY Tom Cannon John Porter 3-8st 13lbs Duke of Westminster 100/11
2 GALORE Fred Webb Mathew Dawson 3-8st 13lbs Duke of St Albans 100/12
3 NETHERAVON F Barrett Alec Taylor 3-8st 3lbs Mr Alec Taylor 100/6
4 MERRY ANDREW John Osborne Wadlow 3-9st 1lbs Lord Bardford 7/2
5 APERSE T Weldon Matthews 3-8st 10lbs Mr R C Vyner 100/9
6 LORD NELSON Fagan Wadlow 3-8st 3lbs Mr H Chaplin 10/1
7 ARRANDALE Warne John Ryan 3-8st 3lbs Mr J H Houldsworth 5/2 fav
8 NUNWICK Sam Loates T Stevens 3-8st 3lbs Mr T Stevens 10/1
9 BELLATRIX Rickaby Alf Sadler 3-7st 13lbs Lord Durham 25/1
This race took place on Tuesday 12th June 1888 and was won by a chesnut colt by Bend Or out of Lily Agnes, who won a first prize of 4100 sovereigns from 62 subscribers (equivalent to £537,000 in 2020). Actual first prize was £2225. Over round 110%
Prince of Wales's Stakes Group 1 1 mile 2 furlongs 1862
    1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888